Highlights of the Rhine River Cruise, Main River Cruise

Learn about fairy tales and history without reading a single page.

From Engelhartszell (Passau), Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Wertheim and Frankfurt to Cologne back to Engelhartszell (Passau).

In an abbey in Engelhartszell, which is embedded in the gentle hills of the upper Danube valley, the abbots produce a beer that tastes heavenly. This forms the perfect start for a journey on the Main from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. Framed by the medieval gems of Nuremberg and Würzburg, Bamberg is also known as “The Frankish Rome” or “Little Venice”. The town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is waiting for you with a wealth of painted façades, tiny lanes and crooked half-timbered houses. Chic Frankfurt offers something completely different: try local specialities such as Handkäs mit Musik (marinated cheese) or grüne Soße (a herby green sauce) while looking out at the city’s shiny glass skyscrapers. On the Main, you can enjoy the best of all eras.

Engelhartszell

This is the departure point for your Danube cruise. Our tip: to ensure that you get off to a relaxed start, travel the day before the cruise begins and spend the night at one of our partner hotels. This will allow you to explore the region around Passau, too. And when your ship sets sail for an exciting Danube cruise, you will have already enjoyed your first few adventures.

Würzburg

This student city is the home of one of Germany’s oldest universities. Situated right on the Main, the city is dominated by Marienberg Fortress. Previously used to house bishops, the fortress has two museums in it today. The Würzburg Residence is one of the most important buildings of its kind from the late baroque period, and the Mirror Cabinet – a room inside – is considered the best example of a rococo interior. Würzburg also has a great theatre scene, with a lot of improv groups, in particular.

Frankfurt

‘Hier bin ich Mensch, hier darf ich’s sein’ (‘Here I am man, dare man to be’). This quote by Frankfurt’s most famous son – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – actually comes from his play Faust (and the English translation by Bayard Taylor), but it is also a very fitting way to describe Goethe’s hometown. Frankfurt’s combination of modern skyscrapers housing major finance companies and the old town with its historic buildings and half-timbered houses is unique. And if you fancy a break from the hustle and bustle, you can take a leisurely walk along the lovely bank of the Main.

Itinerary

This is the departure point for your Danube cruise. Our tip: to ensure that you get off to a relaxed start, travel the day before the cruise begins and spend the night at one of our partner hotels. This will allow you to explore the region around Passau, too. And when your ship sets sail for an exciting Danube cruise, you will have already enjoyed your first few adventures.

You’ll spend your day in Regensburg admiring the churches, towers and patrician houses from the 13th and 14th centuries – in a form not otherwise found north of the Alps – that characterise this one-time free imperial city. Regensburg’s old town is very important thanks to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy views of the city from your vantage point on the Danube. You’ll be able to see the magnificent cathedral from afar.

There’s so much to say about Nuremberg – and this city in Franconia has so many attributes. It’s the city of Wagner’s Master-Singers, Dürer, the Christkindlmarket, gingerbread and bratwurst. This means that you can choose what you’d like to focus on. Interested in food and drink, or culture? Or both? You’re bound to find what you’re looking for here. On this cruise along the Rhine and Main, a stroll through Nuremberg will definitely be worth it.

Bamberg’s unmistakeable cityscape is an architectural masterpiece that took 1,000 years to create. Overlooked by its unique cathedral, Bamberg is a work of art in and of itself, with a wealth of listed buildings that bring together the Gothic and bourgeois baroque styles. This old Franconian seat of bishops and emperors dazzles visitors with its splendid cathedral, its churches and monasteries, its bridges, alleyways and squares, and its half-timbered houses and baroque facades.

Today your romantic river cruise will stop off in Würzburg. This old seat of bishops straddles the River Main. As a university city, Würzburg has an excellent reputation. A centre of Franconian winemaking, it is also the economic hub of Lower Franconia. The city is dominated by its medieval fortress, the Marienberg. A varied visit awaits you here!

With its well-preserved city wall, narrow alleyways, richly decorated half-timbered houses and picturesque market square, Wertheim is quaint and relatively authentic. The ruined castle, perched on a hill, is one of the largest of its kind in Germany. In his 1862 account of the Main region, Karl Baedeker describes Wertheim as the high point of the entire trip. You can put this claim to the test yourself during your Rhine cruise.

Welcome to Goethe’s birthplace! Here’s another historical fact while we’re at it: this is where the first German national assembly met in 1848. Today, the metropolis on the Main is home to the headquarters of major banks and is also one of Germany’s most important centres of business and commerce. Frankfurt is also known for its many futuristic-looking high-rises. You’ll get a closer view of them when your Rhine cruise takes you along the Main river.

A-ROSA Premium all inclusive

Enjoy your most beautiful time with maximum comfort and with the all-round carefree package: A-ROSA Premium all inclusive.

Your desired cabin? Voilà! Sauna, fitness area, pool? Always at your service! Top culinary menus? Enjoy your meal! Attractive discounts on all massage and beauty treatments? Of course! Plus all transfers and many other benefits that will always put a smile on your face, while you have nothing to do but think about your next wish.

FullboardPlus: extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, additional embarkation snack and tea and coffee hour. On many cruises, seasonal supplements such as a midnight snack

High-quality drinks included throughout the day: tea, coffee and coffee specialities, soft drinks, beers, sparkling wine and a selection of wines, cocktails and long drinks. Also besides the lunch and dinner hours. Exceptions are specialities subject to surcharges and champagne.

English-speaking travel and hotel management on our international ships

Free use of the on-board facilities such as sauna and fitness room

15% discount on treatments in our SPA-ROSA

Transfer between railway station or airport and ship

Bathroom amenities and bathrobe in the cabin

On-board entertainment

Port charges

many other services

Book now your trip with the "Premium all inclusive" package until 28 Febuary 2019 or until 31 August 2019 (for trips October 2019 - January 2020) and you will benefit from our attractive early booking discount (limited contingent).

Varied gourmet buffets with regional and seasonal specialities

Live cooking à la minute

No seating or dress code; last but not least, free table times ensure a relaxed atmosphere among the guests

A wine list adapted to the region

Indoor and outdoor restaurant as well as barbecue buffet on the sun deck of selected ships

Choose exactly the cabin you like. If available, we will book your desired cabin with cabin number.

The Hilton Cologne is located right in the middle of Cologne, just a few minutes’ walk away from the imposing Cologne Cathedral and the beautiful old town. The 296 rooms and suites are each equipped with a bathroom and toilet, air conditioning, a safe, a telephone and TV, offering a contemporary ambience for a relaxing stay. After a varied day in this city on the Rhine, you will have earned a relaxed drink in the hotel’s IceBAR, where customised cocktails are served on a bar made of ice. Prices include culture tax. Offer not valid during certain trade fairs in Cologne.

Included services

Overnight stay incl. breakfast, extended stay possible

Double occupancy

€ 99p. P.

Single occupancy

€ 179p. P.

Double occupancy

€ 129p. P.

Single occupancy

€ 229p. P.

Double occupancy

€ 159 p. P.

Single occupancy

€ 279p. P.

The Maritim Hotel Cologne is located right beside the Rhine, just a few steps away from the delightful old town, the cathedral, the city centre and the central train station. The hotel’s charm lies in its unusual architecture. It has more than 454 rooms, suites and apartments, all of which are equipped with a bathroom and toilet, a minibar, a safe, a radio, a TV and a phone. You’ll find a range of boutiques and restaurants in the hotel’s large glass-covered lobby. Prices include culture tax. Offer not valid during certain trade fairs in Cologne.

Included services

Overnight stay incl. breakfast, extended stay possible

Double occupancy

€ 109p. P.

Single occupancy

€ 175p. P.

Double occupancy

€ 125p. P.

Single occupancy

€ 209p. P.

Double occupancy

€ 159 p. P.

Single occupancy

€ 279p. P.

Excelsior Hotel Ernst – Cologne's only member of The Leading Hotels of the World – offers a unique combination of tradition and innovation. The hotel’s prominent location near Cologne Cathedral means that it is easy to get to, while the harmonious colour scheme and classic yet modern furnishings create a timeless feel. All rooms and suites have free Wi-Fi for mobile devices and are equipped with SuitePad, the hotel’s digital concierge service. The Michelin-starred restaurant taku welcomes you with deliciously authentic East Asian masterpieces. And in the gourmet restaurant Hanse Stube, you can experience French cuisine with local influences. Access to the hotel gym, sauna and steam bath, use of your hotel room’s minibar and a shoeshine service are all included in the price. Prices include culture tax. Offer not valid during certain trade fairs in Cologne.